Heavy Metals Concentrations in Fish from Sicily (Mediterranean Sea) and Evaluation of Possible Health Risks to Consumers

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 88; no. 1; pp. 78 - 83
• Main Authors: Copat, Chiara, Bella, Francesca, Castaing, Marine, Fallico, Roberto, Sciacca, Salvatore, Ferrante, Margherita
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.01.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: analysis; Animal tissues; Animals; Aquatic Pollution; Bioaccumulation; Cadmium; carcinogenicity; Chromium; Consumers; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Environmental Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Environmental Health; Fish; Fishes; Fishes - metabolism; Health risks; Heavy metals; Humans; Industrial areas; Industrial pollution; Lead; Mediterranean Sea; Mercury; metabolism; Metal concentrations; Metals, Heavy; Metals, Heavy - metabolism; muscle tissues; Muscles; Muscles - metabolism; Petrochemicals; Pollution; risk; Risk Assessment; Sicily; Sicily (Italy); Soil Science & Conservation; statistics & numerical data; Tissues; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water Pollution Control; Water Pollution, Chemical; Water Pollution, Chemical - statistics & numerical data; Sicily; Mediterranean Sea; Sicily (Italy); MED; THQs; Fish; Pollution; EWI
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-011-0433-6

Cadmium, lead, mercury and chromium concentrations in fish muscle tissue taken from various Sicilian areas were detected. Fish caught in Siracusa, nearby a petrochemical industrial area, were more contaminated by cadmium, lead and chromium (respectively 0.366, 0.32, 0.72 μg/g) than those from the other sites. In the Sicily Channel, we found the highest bioaccumulation of mercury (0.31 μg/g). Although some metals concentrations exceed the limits set by the European regulation, the estimated weekly intake was below the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake established by the European Food and Safety Authority, and the Target Hazard Quotient values indicate that there is no carcinogenic risk for humans.